246 
PELECANIM. 
who, after all, may have had to try his way to the Saltees through 
the black night. 
“ As my residence lies close to a narrow part of Wexford 
harbour, and between the principal part of its area and their 
roosting-place, I think I may conclude that nearly all the birds 
of this species which make out their livelihood there, pass within 
sight of my door. If this supposition be correct the number is 
not great, for not more than from twenty to forty birds pass by 
daily. So bad a flier is the cormorant, that when the wind is 
high, as this evening, he can scarcely make any way whatever 
against it. A great number of gulls of different species follow 
the same trackr as the cormorant, the black-headed ( Larus ridi - 
bundus ) being very common.” It was mentioned three days after 
the preceding note that — “ The cormorants met such opposition 
from a strong southern gale, that finding themselves totally unable 
to make head against it they betook themselves to the water, and, 
having the tide in their favour, pursued their journey successfully 
among the waves.” 
Cormorants are frequently observed perched on stones round 
Swan Island, Larne Lough, their daily fishing station at high water, 
and one morning at day-break, in February 1847, a correspon- 
dent of accurate observation saw about a dozen of these birds 
perching there, where he had no doubt they spent the night. It 
was high water at the time. On the lower portion of a ruined 
building, called the Block-house, situated on a little islet at the 
entrance of Carlingford Lough, they are stated to remain during 
the night, particularly in stormy weather. 
Cormorants regularly appear in flocks far up Belfast Bay after 
the breeding season, and their arrival is welcomed as a proof 
that there are plenty of fish; early in September 1-839, fifteen 
were seen together near Conswater, and a flock of similar number 
appeared on wing, coming from the direction of Strangford 
Lough. Some were seen on the 17th of August, 1840 ; and on 
the 23rd of that month, in 1844, a flock of sixteen came up the 
bay on wing, as usual at this season, when young fish, such as 
codlins, blockans ( Gadidce ), &c., are abundant: the birds appear 
